If you join any of the Migraine Australia support groups you'll see a lot of chatter about CGRPs. 

CGRP stands for Calcitonin Gene Related Peptide, a chemical that is naturally present in the body and has a really significant role in migraine. 'CGRPs' is community shorthand for CGRP antagonist medications - the new class of medications that really effectively helps to manage migraine by blocking CGRP. 

CGRP inhibitors are the first drugs developed for migraine prevention. All other treatments used to prevent migraine attacks prior to 2018 were developed for the management of other conditions and include antidepressants, blood pressure medications, antiseizure medications, antihistamines, and more.

What does CGRP do? 

CGRP is a protein that is released around the brain and found in sensory nerves. It has a number of important functions including being involved in vasodilation, healing, and helps control your appetite and temperature. 

When CGRP is released as part of the storm of chemicals at the start of a migraine attack, it causes intense inflammation in the coverings of the brain (the meninges), and for most migraine patients, causes the pain of a migraine attack. 

How do the new CGRP medications work?

The new migraine medications work by blocking the CGRP. 

CGRP migraine treatments work in one of two ways to prevent or treat migraine attack:

• They block the receptors in and around the brain where CGRP must attach to work. (Aimovig, Nurtec and others)
• They bind to CGRP ligand and prevent it from working. (Emgality, Ajovy, Vyepti and others)

By stopping the CGRP from working, the medication stops most migraine attacks. 

Do they work well? 

Yes. Extremely well, and much better than anything we have had before. 

CGRP inhibitors have had a transformational impact on migraine management since their introduction in 2018, and have been considered first-line treatments since 2024.

They are very effective and have few side effects for the vast majority of people. Around a third of all migraine patients will have a 75% or greater reduction in migraine attacks, and any attacks they do have are not as severe. Some people are completely migraine attack free with the help of CGRP medication.

CGRP treatments have also proven to be effective for people who did not have success with other medications. 

And we have enough data now to know the vast majority of people are staying on the medication long term because it works so well. 

How do I get the new CGRP medications?

To find out more about these new medications and if they may be of benefit to you, please speak to your doctor.

The CGRP medications currently available in Australia are:

• erenumab (Aimovig)*
• fremanezumab (Ajovy)
• galcanezumab (Emgality)
• eptinezumab (Vyepti)
• rimegepant (Nurtec)*
  * not on the PBS

All of these medications are designed to be used as preventatives to reduce the number of attacks, while Nurtec may be used as either a preventative and/or an abortive when attacks occur. 

All GPs can prescribe the new medications, however they are very expensive. Only a very limited number of the most debilitated people who have failed older ineffective drugs are able to access the medications on the PBS.

Find out more about these medications, including prices and PBS access rules, on our main site.